The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-15
TYBEE BEACH TRAGEDY.
THE FACTS GATHERED BY THE
CORONER'S JURY.

VI
With Being an Accessory-The Evil
dence Circumstantial But Very
Strong-Important Clues-A Missing
Witness-what the Post Norton Ex-
animation Showed.
The mystery surrounding the tragic death
of George Smith on Tybee Island early
Wednesday morning has not been positively
solved, but circuustantial evidence of the
strongest character points to Thomas Cas-
sidy as the murderer with Maggie Terrell
ms an accessory either before or after the
fact
The MORNING NEWS has told the story of
the tragedy as well as the difficulties in the
way of communication between Tybee and
Savannah would permit. The telephone
worked badly, and the evidence was so
slowly developed that it was found impossi-
BILE to publish the most interesting and i'm
portant facts in yesterday mornings issue.
In order to present the case in its en-
tirety, a resume of what has already been
published is here given, and then the thread
of the story is taken up and unwound to
its end.
DISCOVERY OF THE BODY.
Smiths body was discovered at $50
o'clock Wednesday morning by Mr.. A. Mi
mis-, Jr., Mr.. J. n. johnson, Mr.. r. +. Hig-
gins and lady, who were driving in wag
onette to the south end of Tybee to spend
the morning fishing.
The body was about quarter OF
mile below the Seaside Pavilion, close to
the waters edge, it being then dead low tide.
About ninety feet back of the body, just
where the soft sand joins the hard sand of
the beach, evidences of a desperate struggle
were discovered. The sand was spotted
with blood, and there were many impress
sions of a large foot and smaller one. The
hard sand was marked down to the waters
edge as if the body had been hurriedly
dragged over it. Not far from the body
was found pair of shoes, which were after
ward identified as the property Of Smith.
FOLLOWING CLUES.
As soon as the people living near the
beach were informed of the murder, Mr..
Minis notified the authorities in Savannah
and suggested the arrest OF Thomas Cassidy,
Barney Keyes and Maggie Terrell.
The reason for suspecting the parties men
toned was that they were the last that
were seen with Smith. Mr. Minis discovered
that the large and smaller footprints already
mentioned led from point near the bath
houses in the rear of the Seaside Pavilion
to the place where the struggle between
Smith and his murderer took place. The
smaller footprints were so wide apart that it
was believed that the man who made them
must have been running. Mr.. Minis care
fully measured the large footprints with a
stick Smiths shoes were found to fit the
smaller exactly.
Smiths body was allowed to remain on
the beach all day, the majority of the people
on Tybee holding that it would be unlawful
TO remove it until viewed by the Coroner.
IL was protected from the sun by a tarpaulin.
THE CORONER ACTS.
Owing to the schedule of the boat, it was
impossible for Capt. Dixon. the Coroner, to
leave Savannah for Tybee until o'clock p.
m. He carried with him jury summoned in
the city, and also took Barney Reyes, who
had been released from confinement, Capt
Dixon having satisfied himself that he was
not concerned in the murder. The Cambria
made the trip to Tybee in an hour and
twenty minutes. Atthe wharf Capt Dixon
the jury and others took the train and rode
to the Seaside Pavilion. Two or three
lamps were procured and the party wendell
its way to the spot where the body lay In
the rear of the little procession Smiths
brother and half brother followed, while
just behind them was borne a coffin and a
large lump of ice.
THE SCENE ON THE BEACH
When the body of the murdered man
was reached the scene ON the beach was a
weird one. 1t was very dark, and the flick
ering lamps served to deepen the gloom.
The sea Numbered against The shingle, and
now and then the plaintive note of a bird
was heard. The body rested ON plank.
The hands were folded over the breast, the
eyes and mouth were closed, and the up
turned face was very pale save where blood
had clothed around the wounds. As soon as
Smiths brothers beheld his stiffened form
they broke into loud lamentations.
He was my brother!" exclaimed one
Yes" the other moaned, she was my
brother. Yesterday so gay. Look at him
nowi Look at him now!"
The party crowded around, but by direc-
ton of Capt. Dixon soon moved away to
give the jury room to make an examina-
ton. 1t was here that the jury was sworn,
the members standing ON either side of the
body.
AT THE SEASIDE PAVILION.
After the wounds had been examined,
and Mr.. Minis had described how the body
was discovered, the jury returned to the
Seaside Pavilion, where the inquest was re-
summed. The body was delivered to Smiths
brothers and their friends, and was by them
brought TO the city on the Cambria, as de-
scribed in yesterday mornings issue.
The witnesses examined by the Coroner
were the following: A. Minis, Jr. J. n.
johnson (bY a written communication,
Johu Wright, Arthur Allen (coloredJ, G.
b. Westcott, B. Bennett, J. C. McGowan
and Barney Reyes
The public is already familiar with Mr..
Minis testimony and its substantiation by
Mr.. johnson.
Mr.. John Wright who is the proprietor
CT the Seaside Pavilion, testified that George
Smith and Barney Reyes came to the hotel
early Tuesday night. They stayed few
minutes and then went TO the Ocean
House. Afterward they returned,
Reyes being very drunk and
noisy. Mr.. Wright told Smith that Keycs
must be quiet or leave the hotel. Smith
promised to keep his companion quiet, and,
after n good deal Of persuasion, induced him
TO go upstairs where both went TO bed At
30 O'Clock Smith came down stairs dressed
in trousers, an undershirt, shoes and a white
derby hat with broad black band He
and Mr.. Wright talked awhile, but about
l2 o'clock were interrupted by Cassidy,
who came from the Ocean House.
Cassidy had previously engaged
rooms at the Seaside Pavilion for himself,
Maggie Terrell, little white girl, and a
young negro boy. Mr.. Wright did not
know Cassidy, and claimed that no was not
aware that his reputation was bad Here
Dir. Wright gave long account of Cassi-
dy's drinking, his attentions 90 Maggie
Terrell, his obtaining bathing suits for him
self, Maggie Terrell, the little girl,
and the negro boy, his leaving with these
parties for the beach, their return and then